The Veritas Awards was hosted for the 26th time this year making it South Africa’s oldest wine competition.  From the original 801 submissions the contest has grown to close to 1700 entries this year.  All the double gold and gold Veritas medal winning wines were up for tasting this past week at the Cape Town Convention Centre and I was there to evaluate. I tasted the following wines:

• Shannon Vineyards – Merlot and Sauvignon Blanc made specifically for Woolworths. James Downes made the trip from Elgin to present the Shannon wines made by Hemel-en-Aarde winemakers Nadia and Gordon Newton Johnson.
• La Vierge Collection Pinot Noir – one of only 3 Pinot Noirs to take Gold and the only Hemel-en-Aarde producer at the Veritas tasting.  Winemaker Gerhard Smith proudly presented the La Vierge Collection Pinot Noir.  Another Hermanus winemaker, Emul Ross of Hamilton Russell Vineyards, was one of the seven judges of this category.  It takes a good Pinot Noir winemaker to recognise a kindred spirit. #justsaying
• Lomond Conebush Syrah. Wayne Gabb took his Elim wines to Cape Town and both his Syrah and Syrah/Mourvedre/Viognier blend SMV tasted beautifully.
• Cederberg Wines Ghost Corner Sauvignon Blanc, Wine Ferment Sauvignon Blanc and The Bowline – a blend of Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc. Great to see how the elegant Ghost Corner range has expanded.  My most interesting discovery was Cederberg’s Longavi Sauvignon Blanc made in partnership with Viña Bouchon in Argentina.
• Ultra Liquors Secret Cellar Blanc de Blanc MCC. Believed to be the best priced MCC on the market at R65.
• Ernie Els Double Gold winning Big Easy red blend. Using 6 varietals the wine is made of 61% Shiraz, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Grenache, 4% Mourvèdre, 4% Cinsaut, 4% Viognier.
• Distell’s Pongracz Rose was right at the entrance and the way to freshen up my palate on arival and toast to a great evening on departure.